Perry’s office dismissed the report and a spokesman said that the GOP governor has “one of the strictest ethics policies in the nation.”

The “winning” list of 11 governors — including nine Republicans and

two Democrats — is composed of elected officials “who have pushed their

states’ best interests aside in favor of their supporters, families,

political parties and bank accounts,” CREW said in its announcement.

CREW singled out six Perry controversies. Among them, the group said

that the governor “allegedly disregarded campaign finance laws and aided

a business that was especially generous to his campaign” and “accepted

travel and campaign donations from a business that received benefits

from his official actions.”

The group also accused Perry of rejected federal economic stimulus

money “in a manner that appeared to put partisan politics ahead of the

interests of the citizens of Texas” and “has perpetuated the revolving

door between government and special interests.”

“There has been a great deal of focus on the ethics of Congress over

the past few years, but CREW’s report shows that state governments are

not immune to ethics problems,” said executive director Melanie Sloan.

“Too often — whether in Washington, D.C., or in South Dakota — our

country’s political leaders are more focused on what’s best for the

favored few, rather than on improving the lives of Americans.”

A Perry spokesman quickly disputed the allegations, saying they were incorrect and long-discredited.

“The information in this report (has) been proven to be inaccurate,” said spokesman Mark Miner. “The truth is Texas has been recognized by a national organization for transparency in government and the governor has one of the strictest ethics policies in the nation.”

CREW stood by its report and said it was hoping to shine the ethics spotlight on political activities far beyond the Potomac.

CREW has been critical of unethical conduct by politicians in both

parties, including recent attacks on House Ways & Means Committee

Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., former Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., and

recently deceased Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. But many Republicans consider